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Roger Federer breezes past Kei Nishikori at ATP World Tour Finals Roger Federer breezes past Kei Nishikori at ATP World Tour Finals
(about 2 hours later)
Roger Federer made it two wins from two group matches at the ATP World Tour Finals with a comfortable victory over Andy Murray’s conqueror, Kei Nishikori.Roger Federer made it two wins from two group matches at the ATP World Tour Finals with a comfortable victory over Andy Murray’s conqueror, Kei Nishikori.
The Japanese player was the only debutant to win his opening match and he was looking to maintain his good record against Federer.The Japanese player was the only debutant to win his opening match and he was looking to maintain his good record against Federer.
However, this was a real contest only in the early stages as Federer breezed to a 6-3, 6-2 win to add to his straight sets victory over Milos Raonic on Sunday.However, this was a real contest only in the early stages as Federer breezed to a 6-3, 6-2 win to add to his straight sets victory over Milos Raonic on Sunday.
Federer will qualify for the semi-finals if Raonic defeats Murray later on Tuesday or Murray wins in three sets, with victory for the Scot now imperative to keep his chances alive.Federer will qualify for the semi-finals if Raonic defeats Murray later on Tuesday or Murray wins in three sets, with victory for the Scot now imperative to keep his chances alive.
Nishikori admitted the first time he played his idol he had too much respect for him to offer a challenge, but he had won two of their previous three meetings.Nishikori admitted the first time he played his idol he had too much respect for him to offer a challenge, but he had won two of their previous three meetings.
The 24-year-old had begun nervously against Murray but this time he looked sharp from the start and things might have been different had he converted one of two break points in the third game.The 24-year-old had begun nervously against Murray but this time he looked sharp from the start and things might have been different had he converted one of two break points in the third game.
But Federer saved both and made Nishikori pay by breaking in the next game with two bullet forehands. That seemed to deflate the No4 seed, whose usually reliable backhand began to let him down.But Federer saved both and made Nishikori pay by breaking in the next game with two bullet forehands. That seemed to deflate the No4 seed, whose usually reliable backhand began to let him down.
It looked like the O2 Arena might witness its fifth consecutive 6-1 set after Monday’s blow-out wins for Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic when Federer had a point for 5-1. This time Nishikori saved the break point but he could make no headway on Federer’s serve and the world No2 easily wrapped up the opening set.It looked like the O2 Arena might witness its fifth consecutive 6-1 set after Monday’s blow-out wins for Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic when Federer had a point for 5-1. This time Nishikori saved the break point but he could make no headway on Federer’s serve and the world No2 easily wrapped up the opening set.
Nishikori then took a medical time-out for treatment to his right wrist, and things showed no sign of improving as Federer broke again early in the second set.Nishikori then took a medical time-out for treatment to his right wrist, and things showed no sign of improving as Federer broke again early in the second set.
The Japanese could not find the right balance between attack and defence and more errors handed Federer a 5-2 lead. He had to save a third break point serving for the match but that proved a minor inconvenience as he wrapped up victory in one hour and nine minutes.The Japanese could not find the right balance between attack and defence and more errors handed Federer a 5-2 lead. He had to save a third break point serving for the match but that proved a minor inconvenience as he wrapped up victory in one hour and nine minutes.
The victory took Federer to 70 match wins for the season and to within seven of becoming only the third man behind Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl to make it to 1,000 career victories.
No other male player has made it to 60 wins so far this season, and Federer said: “I think it’s a great number.
“I played only the big tournaments this year. Again, I chased all the Masters 1,000s, grand slams and so forth. It’s not easy to win matches there because guys are always very good, the margins are small.
“More important for me is getting closer to the 1,000 number. Not that it’s one I’ve ever aimed to reach, but it would obviously be cool to get there.”
It was the fifth one-sided victory from five singles matches so far this tournament, with the second set between Federer and Raonic the only really competitive one.
Asked for his explanation, Federer said: “I think it’s actually quite simple, in my opinion, because the court plays somewhat slow, and the serve doesn’t have that much of an impact.
“I think it’s very much a game of movement and a baseline game. Whoever’s better from the baseline has the upper hand, then dominates.
“I think that’s why we’re seeing heavy scorelines, because it’s just hard to serve your way out of trouble.”
Nishikori credited Federer with coming up with the right shots at the biggest moments.
“He took all the important points,” said the 24-year-old, who is still in a decent position to make the semi-finals.
“Maybe he didn’t play 100%, but all the tough points he played good serve, good points. He didn’t give me a chance to come back.
“I didn’t play really bad. But still, I wasn’t really consistent.”